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Recently, Congress passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act to provide 700 billion dollars of relief to the struggling US Economy. Also included in this legislation was a Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. This act for the first time, requires equal coverage of mental and addiction illnesses in an employer's group health plan. What this means is that it is now against the law for health insurers to discriminate against the mentally ill or those who are addicted to alcohol and drugs.

I have traveled the road of devastation both physically and spiritually and have come to embrace a way of living that exceeds all expectations.

Los Angeles (PRWEB)October 22, 2008

Recently, Congress passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act to provide 700 billion dollars of relief to the struggling US Economy. Also included in this legislation was a Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. This act for the first time, requires equal coverage of mental and addiction illnesses in an employer's group health plan. What this means is that it is now against the law for health insurers to discriminate against the mentally ill or those who are addicted to alcohol and drugs.

Nick Russi, Executive Director of Tropical Oasis Treatment Center, understands that addiction is a treatable and preventable disease, yet millions of Americans are suffering not only from addiction but the cost to maintain it as well. "No matter where I went I inevitably used again, until I made the choice for myself," explains Russi about his own struggles with addiction as a young adult. He goes on to say, "I have traveled the road of devastation both physically and spiritually and have come to embrace a way of living that exceeds all expectations." This is why Nick Russi has devoted his life to helping those who struggle with the perils of addiction.

Tropical Oasis Treatment Center is located in Orotina, Costa Rica, and treats all forms of addiction, ranging from eating disorders to chemical dependency, and from gambling to sex addiction. Nestled on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, Tropical Oasis Treatment Center is just a reasonable plane ride and scenic drive away from the United States. Offering one to three month treatment plans starting at just under the cost of what a normal drug addict would spend in three months. When Russi began his rehabilitation center his goal was to provide top-notch care at an affordable rate. Russi went on to explain, " The fact is that the average treatment in the US is between 20-60 thousand dollars per month. Where Tropical Oasis' price point for thirty days is 7,900, which includes medical detox as well."

It is widely known that the financial resources an addict can use to support their addiction adds up fast. The average addict lives day to day, not worrying about the long-term financial impacts their addiction might carry. The average heroin addict spends $30,000 to $40,000 a year, but to the addict that is just an $80 to $110 a day habit.

According to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, not only do addicts see losses in financial security, they also see a drastic loss in productivity at their place of employment. Substance abuse is heavily associated with absenteeism from work, which results in fewer promotions and an increased risk of unemployment.

The certified professionals at the Tropical Oasis Treatment Center agree that substance addiction problems not only take time away from normal life with friends and family, but it is also dangerous for the health of the addicted. The financial risk due to health problems increases due to a result in more unintended hospital visits for reasons associated with the addiction. According to a recent study published by the Harvard School of Medicine, 54 per cent of all bankruptcies in America are due to unintended medical bills.

With the current state of the US economy in a tailspin, the cost of addiction is a luxury no one can afford. No one understands this more than Executive Director Nick Russi, who experienced the cost of addiction personally. "We are dedicated to helping addicts and alcoholics recover from the devastating effects of addiction," Russi goes onto say, "when it comes to addiction, effective rehabilitation is the best bet in these uncertain times, and that's exactly what we offer."